Meet the candidates, get their views on Lake Tahoe bicycling issues on Nov. 1

The six candidates running for the South Lake Tahoe City Council will appear at the Lake Tahoe Community College’s Duke Theater, located at one College Drive, during the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition’s final Film Festival presentation on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The candidates’ appearance, during the Film Festival, is planned as an ideal setting for them to share their views about cycling’s role in the community to an audience who care about the candidates’ commitment and plans for cycling in the South Shore. Cycling issues in South Lake Tahoe encompass a variety of challenges, from lack of bicycle lanes and connectivity on the main thoroughfare, Highway 50, to lack of funding for adequate maintenance of critical paths, lanes and routes.

The format for the evening is planned as a one hour candidate forum moderated by Ty Polastri, president of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. The candidates will be asked the same two questions and each will have up to three minutes in which to answer.

Upon completion of the moderator’s two questions, members from the audience may ask a specific question directed to any one candidate of their choosing. Once again, the three minute reply rule will be used.

The six City Council candidates running for office, and who will be participating in the Forum are: incumbent Councilman Ted Long, Austin Sass, Jonnie Crawford, Bruce Grego, Warren Kessler, and Hal Cole. Two of the six candidates will be elected for the City Council during the Nov. 4 election.

Following the forum, at 8 p.m., the Bicycle Film Festival will continue with a presentation of a major motion picture starring two-time Academy Award winner, Kevin Costar in the film American Flyers. This film follows a story of two brothers struggling to win the Hell of the West, a world-class cycling competition, and regain the respect and affection they once shared.

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“The film is loosely based on the fierce competition by local Tour de France champion, Greg Lemond, of Reno and the Russians,” said festival producer Ty Polastri. “The film is about overcoming personal challenges and reuniting family, in a setting that is humorous, tense, and with some of the best bicycle racing action ever captured by a major motion picture.”

This is the third and final presentation of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Film Festival produced by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition ” a regional bicycle advocacy organization with the mission of promoting safe and enjoyable bicycling for transportation and recreation in the Lake Tahoe region. You can learn more about the Bike Coalition by visiting their web site at http://www.TahoeBike.org.

For more information, contact Ty Polastri, event producer, by telephone: (775) 586-9566 or (415) 259-8577 mobile or by e-mail at Entersport@aol.com.